Storm Trami expected to grow stronger near Vietnam’s central coast

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7 a.m. on Thursday, the storm was positioned over northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 88 kph.

Moving west-northwest at a speed of 15-20 kph, Trami is forecastto enter the East Sea Thursday night, becoming the sixth storm to impact Vietnam this year.

The forecast indicates that the storm will maintain its strength overnight, move westwards, and intensify as it enters the eastern part of the East Sea by Friday morning.

From Sunday, under the influence of a cold air mass moving down from the north, the storm is expected to shift southward and strengthen, packing winds of up to 117 kph near the central coast.

The national forecast center has not yet confirmed the likelihood of the typhoon making landfall in Vietnam.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts that after entering the East Sea, the typhoon’s winds will strengthen to 108 kph and maintain that speed as it approaches central Vietnam’s waters. The Hong Kong Observatory forecasts Trami to peak at 120 kph and turn back out to sea without making landfall.

A resident walks beside a truck buried by volcanic mud that flowed down from Mayon volcano after heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Trami hit Guinobatan town, Albay province, Philippines on Oct. 23, 2024. Photo by AP

Trami has already caused heavy rain and severe flooding in the northern Philippines, resulting in at least 26 deaths and forcing more than 150,000 residents to evacuate as it made landfall on the northeastern coast, according to Reuters.

Since the beginning of the year, the East Sea has experienced five storms, with the strongest being Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall on the northern coast on Sept. 7, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to northern Vietnam. Yagi resulted in 344 deaths and missing persons and caused economic losses exceeding VND81.5 trillion (US$3.31 billion) in Vietnam.